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Short answer: pick the app by subject. Mimo for coding, Memrise or Quizlet for languages, Yousician for an instrument, and Khan Academy for school subjects, free from start to finish. If your child needs a real person to explain math or reading, Brighterly pairs live tutoring with practice between sessions.
A phone is the most patient teacher most of us own. It sits in a pocket through the commute, the queue, the ten dead minutes before a meeting, and any one of those gaps is enough to learn a verb, debug a loop, or run a few flashcards. The Play Store is stacked with apps that promise exactly that, which is the problem: too many of them, and no easy way to tell the serious tools from the ones that fizzle out after a week.
So we cut it down to thirteen picks: twelve apps across languages, coding, music, science, study and reading, plus one live tutoring service for kids. For each one we note who it suits and what it costs now, because the pricing on a lot of these has shifted since they launched. Skim the comparison table first, then jump to the section for whatever you are trying to learn.
How the 13 apps compare
Prices are US list prices from each company or its app store listing, and several vary by country or change with sales. The free option column is what you get without paying at all.
| App | Best for | Free option | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | Daily brain games | One game a day | Pro plan |
| Mimo | A coding habit | Limited lessons | $9.99 a month |
| Brighterly | Kids’ math and reading | Free demo lesson | About $18 a lesson |
| Stellarium | Stargazing | Full sky map | $19.99 for Plus |
| Yousician | An instrument | Premium trial | Premium plan |
| Skillshare | Creative projects | 7-day trial | About $168 a year |
| Khan Academy | School subjects | Everything | Free |
| Quizlet | Flashcards, exams | Capped Learn and tests | $35.99 a year |
| Memrise | Spoken language | One speaking session a day | $61.99 a year |
| Udemy | One career skill | Some free courses | $9.99 a course |
| LinkedIn Learning | Credentials | Trial for some | With Premium Career |
| Moon+ Reader | Studying ebooks | Full reader, ads | $11.99 once |
| Goodreads | Reading lists | Everything | Free |
Free to download is not the same as free to use
- Most apps here install at no cost, but the free tier is usually a sample. Quizlet caps Learn rounds and practice tests, Memrise allows one speaking session a day, Skillshare offers only a trial, and only Khan Academy is free all the way down. Check the in-app pricing before you build a study routine around any of them.
Peak
Two-minute brain workouts
Peak turns memory, attention and mental math drills into short games, and it raises the difficulty as you improve so the workout never turns into busywork.
- Best forA quick daily warmup for memory, focus and mental math.
- PriceFree app, paid Pro plan
- Free optionOne game or workout a day, with ads
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone
- LevelTeens and adults
The good
- Games are short enough for a coffee break
- Difficulty adapts as your scores climb
- The brain map shows your strong and weak areas
The bad
- Most of the game library sits behind Pro
- Better scores in Peak do not mean a sharper brain
Peak dresses cognitive training up as a library of more than 40 quick games, and that is the whole trick: it feels like play, but the workouts target memory, attention, mental math, problem-solving and language. The free tier gives you one game or workout a day, with ads, and Pro opens the full library.
Keep expectations honest, though. Practice at Peak’s games mostly makes you better at Peak’s games. The FTC fined the maker of Lumosity $2 million for claiming its brain games would lift performance at work and school. Treat any brain-training app that promises the same with suspicion. As a two-minute warmup, Peak still earns its spot on the home screen.
Key features
- Daily workout: a set of games chosen for you each day.
- 40+ games: memory, focus, mental math, problem-solving and language drills.
- Brain map: your scores by skill area, so you can see where you are weakest.
Mimo
Learn to code in short sessions
Mimo teaches real programming in lessons short enough for a bus ride, and you type actual code from the first session instead of reading theory for a week.
- Best forBeginners building a daily coding habit.
- PricePro from $9.99 a month
- Free optionA limited number of lessons
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone, web
- LanguagesPython, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL
The good
- You write real code from the first lesson
- Streaks and a set path make the habit stick
- Pro removes ads and adds a certificate
The bad
- Light on the large projects real jobs need
- Career paths and the AI tutor need the pricier Max plan
Mimo makes the case that you can pick up real programming in the gaps of a normal day, and it mostly delivers. Lessons come in short, interactive chunks, and a personalized path decides what comes next, so you never sit wondering what to learn.
Streaks and badges keep you coming back. That gamified loop is the strength and the catch: it is great for building a daily habit and getting comfortable with syntax, less so for the deep, project-heavy work you will eventually need. Treat it as the on-ramp, not the whole road. The free version limits how many lessons you can take, and a 7-day trial comes only with the yearly plans.
Key features
- Interactive lessons: type and run code inside each lesson, with instant feedback.
- Two paid tiers: Pro from $9.99 a month for the app, Max from $39.99 for web access and more.
- Max extras: career paths, guided projects and an AI coding tutor.
Brighterly
Live math and reading tutors for kids
Brighterly pairs a child with a real tutor for one-on-one video lessons in math and reading, matched to the exact spot where they are stuck.
- Best forParents who want a live tutor plus daily practice between lessons.
- PriceAbout $18 to $22 a lesson
- Free optionA free demo lesson
- Runs onWeb browser, no app
- Grades1 to 12, math and reading
The good
- A real tutor, one on one, working on your child’s gaps
- Homework Helper explains the steps instead of the answer
- Separate spaces for parent and kid in one hub
The bad
- Live lessons need a steady internet connection
- No group classes, and self-practice is still rolling out
Brighterly is the one pick on this list with a person on the other end. It covers math and reading from 1st through 12th grade, and every session is a live video lesson with a tutor who starts from where your child is stuck, whether that is fractions or reading fluency. Lessons run 45 minutes and cost roughly $18 to $22 each depending on the package size, and the first demo lesson is free. There is good evidence behind the format: a review of randomized tutoring studies by NBER researchers found consistent, substantial learning gains, with the strongest effects when teachers or trained tutors run the sessions.
Everything sits in one hub, with a space for the parent and a separate one for the kid. Between sessions, Math Practice and Reading Practice keep the skills warm, and tutors can assign quick assessments on the platform, so you see progress instead of guessing at it. Homework Helper is the clever part: it walks through your child’s own math problem step by step rather than handing over the answer.
There are limits. Lessons need a steady internet connection, there are no group classes, and the self-practice tools are still rolling out to early sign-ups, so check what your account includes. Worth a look at this learning platform if a tutor plus daily practice is the combination you’re after.
Key features
- Live one-on-one lessons: video sessions with a tutor matched to your child’s level.
- Math Practice and Reading Practice: short exercises between sessions.
- Homework Helper: step-by-step help on the child’s own math problems.
- Quick assessments: tutors assign them on the platform to track progress.
Stellarium Mobile
A planetarium in your pocket
Point the phone at the sky and Stellarium names what you are looking at, from bright stars to the planets and their moons.
- Best forStargazers and anyone learning the night sky.
- PriceFree; Plus is $19.99 on Android
- Free optionThe full sky map and night mode
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone
- LevelCurious beginners to hobbyists
The good
- Labels the sky live as you move the phone
- Night mode keeps your eyes used to the dark
- The free version covers casual stargazing
The bad
- Telescope control and planning tools cost extra
- Pointing accuracy depends on your phone’s compass
Point your phone at the night sky and Stellarium names everything you are looking at. The free edition renders a real-time, zoomable map of stars, planets, comets and satellites, including the ISS, all tracking your location and the time of night.
It teaches you the sky properly, and it is also a lovely thing to scroll through on a clear night. The free version covers most casual stargazing. Stellarium Plus, a separate $19.99 app on Android, adds telescope control, an eyepiece view and observation planning for anyone who gets properly hooked.
Key features
- Live sky view: hold the phone up and the map follows it, with labels on stars and planets.
- Time travel: move the clock forward or back to see the sky on any night.
- Night mode: a red display that does not spoil your dark vision.
Yousician
Instrument lessons that listen back
Yousician listens through the mic while you play and tells you, note by note, whether you hit the pitch and held the timing.
- Best forBeginners learning guitar, piano, bass, ukulele or singing.
- PricePremium or Premium+ plan
- Free optionA free Premium trial for first-timers
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone
- InstrumentsGuitar, piano, bass, ukulele, voice
The good
- Real-time feedback on every note you play
- Graded lessons and real songs, first chord onward
- Works with a normal instrument, no cables
The bad
- Premium covers one instrument; all five need Premium+
- Piano and ukulele now live in separate apps
Yousician’s instant feedback loop is what sets it apart from watching tutorial videos. You play into the phone, the app follows along, and you know straight away which bar went wrong. The curriculum scales from your first chord to fairly advanced material.
On Android the main app now focuses on guitar, bass and singing, with piano and ukulele in apps of their own. Premium unlocks unlimited lessons for one instrument, Premium+ opens all five plus popular songs, and a Family plan covers up to four people. Think of it as a structured course with a paid plan behind it rather than a free toy.
Key features
- Listens as you play: the mic checks pitch and timing with no extra hardware.
- Popular songs: unlocked with Premium+, so you practice on music you like.
- Family plan: Premium+ Family covers up to four accounts.
Skillshare
Creative classes with a project at the end
Skillshare is a library of short, project-based classes in design, illustration, photography, video and creative business, all opened by one subscription.
- Best forDabblers who want to finish something they made.
- PriceAbout $168 a year
- Free optionA 7-day trial
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone, web
- LevelBeginner to intermediate
The good
- Classes end with a project you actually made
- One plan opens the whole library
- Covers illustration, design, video, photography and writing
The bad
- No free plan, only a trial
- Teacher quality varies from class to class
Skillshare is where you go to pick up a creative skill rather than a formal qualification. Almost every class is built around a project, so you finish with something you made rather than a quiz score.
Community feedback and ratings help you sort the strong teachers from the filler. The annual plan runs about $168 after a 7-day trial. It suits the curious dabbler more than the credential-chasing professional, and a weekend class is a good way out of a creative rut.
Key features
- Project-based classes: each one ends in something you build and can share.
- Learning paths: classes grouped into a sequence for a bigger skill.
- Student reviews: ratings on each class help you pick a teacher before you start.
Khan Academy
Free school subjects, no catch
A nonprofit library of lessons and practice in math, science, economics, humanities and computing, free from the first lesson to the last.
- Best forStudents from early grades to college, and adults filling gaps.
- PriceFree, nonprofit
- Free optionEvery lesson and exercise
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone, web
- LevelEarly grades to early college
The good
- Every lesson and exercise is free
- Practice adapts to where you slip up
- Mastery tracking shows what you actually know
The bad
- The Khanmigo AI tutor costs $4 a month
- The video style can feel dry for younger kids
Khan Academy is a nonprofit funded by donors, and its whole library is free, with no subscription waiting at the bottom of the menu. It runs more than 840 courses in math, science, economics, history and computing, pitched mostly at school and early-college level but useful to anyone filling a gap.
The app mirrors the full website: short video lessons, practice sets that adapt to where you slip up, and progress tracking that shows mastery rather than hours logged. If you only install one thing from this list and you have a subject to learn, make it this. The nonprofit explains how it stays free on its about page.
Key features
- Mastery levels: skills move up as you get practice questions right.
- Khanmigo: an optional AI tutor for $4 a month, free for teachers.
- Khan Academy Kids: a separate free app for early learners.
Quizlet
Flashcards that test you back
Make your own flashcard sets or borrow from the millions other students share, then drill them with matching games, written tests and audio.
- Best forStudents revising for exams, and vocabulary in any language.
- PricePlus from $35.99 a year
- Free optionFlashcards, with capped Learn and tests
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone, web
- LevelMiddle school to university
The good
- Huge library of shared study sets
- Several study modes for one set of cards
- Syncs with the web, so laptop sets show up on the phone
The bad
- Learn rounds and practice tests are capped for free
- Shared sets can contain mistakes
If you learn by repetition, Quizlet is built for you. There is research behind that: a large review of study techniques in Psychological Science in the Public Interest rated practice testing and spaced practice as the two most useful methods it examined, well ahead of rereading and highlighting. Flashcards are practice testing in its simplest form.
The catch is the free plan. Learn mode allows a limited number of rounds per set, Test gives you one practice test per set, and the AI practice tests and study guides are only a taste. Quizlet Plus costs $35.99 a year or $7.99 a month, with a 7-day trial on the yearly plan only. The basics still work for free, but heavy revisers will hit the ceiling fast.
Key features
- Learn mode: a guided round that mixes question types and repeats what you miss.
- Test mode: a practice exam built from any set.
- AI study tools: practice tests and study guides built from your own notes.
Memrise
Languages as people actually speak them
Memrise teaches vocabulary with clips of native speakers, then has you practice speaking before you try it on a stranger.
- Best forLearners who want real spoken language, not textbook phrases.
- PricePro from $61.99 a year
- Free optionOne speaking session a day
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone, web
- Pro plansMonthly, yearly or lifetime
The good
- Video clips of native speakers in real situations
- Speaking practice to rehearse real conversations
- Short daily goals keep the habit cheap to start
The bad
- Free plan allows one speaking session a day
- Ads until you pay for Pro
Memrise has been rebuilt since its early days, and the new shape suits it. The old community-made courses are gone, folded into a tighter, more polished app that focuses on the words and phrases people actually say.
What you get is a focused path through real spoken language: vocabulary first, then clips of native speakers, then speaking practice that lets you rehearse without the nerves of talking to a stranger. The free plan allows one speaking session a day; Pro lifts that limit, removes ads, and costs $61.99 a year on the US App Store.
Key features
- Native-speaker videos: short clips of locals using the words you are learning.
- Wordlists: vocabulary practice built around themed lists.
- Speaking practice: one session a day on the free plan, unlimited with Pro.
Udemy
A marketplace of career courses
Udemy sells individual video courses on almost anything, from spreadsheets to game development, and a course you buy stays in your account.
- Best forLearning one specific, practical skill you can name.
- PriceCourses from $9.99
- Free optionSome free courses
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone, web
- LevelAny, course by course
The good
- Huge range, including niche technical topics
- Frequent sales cut course prices hard
- Courses you buy stay yours
The bad
- Quality swings widely between instructors
- List prices look high until a sale
Udemy is less a course and more a marketplace. Anyone can teach, which means quality swings wildly, so read the ratings and reviews before you buy rather than after. Udemy is now part of Coursera after the two companies combined in May, but the platforms still run separately and pricing has not changed.
The site runs sales often enough that it rarely makes sense to pay list price, so wait for a discount. Once a course is yours, progress syncs across devices and you can message the instructor with questions. For a specific, practical skill you can name, it is one of the best-value options here.
Key features
- Lifetime access: a purchased course stays in your library.
- Personal Plan: a subscription to 28,000+ top courses, for as long as you pay.
- Q and A with instructors: ask questions under each lecture.
- Offline viewing: download lectures in the app.
LinkedIn Learning
Professional courses that show on your profile
LinkedIn Learning is a library of business, software, creative and career courses taught by working professionals, with certificates that post to your LinkedIn profile.
- Best forProfessionals who want credentials an employer will see.
- PriceComes with Premium Career
- Free optionA Premium trial for some members
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone, web
- LevelWorking professionals
The good
- Consistent production quality across courses
- Certificates show up on your LinkedIn profile
- Included in LinkedIn Premium Career
The bad
- No standalone plan for individuals
- Less depth than a full specialist course
LinkedIn Learning is the professional-development hub that absorbed the old Lynda.com library years ago. The catalog runs past 25,000 courses, and completed ones can appear on your LinkedIn profile as credentials.
The interface is clean and the learning paths make it easy to follow a structured route rather than wander. LinkedIn does not sell Learning as a separate plan for individuals: it comes with Premium Career, and many employers and schools license it, so check whether you already have access before paying.
Key features
- Learning paths: course sequences built around a role or skill.
- Certificates: add completions to your LinkedIn profile in one tap.
- AI coaching: an AI coach for career and learning questions, part of Premium Career.
Moon+ Reader
The reading half of a study routine
Moon+ Reader opens most ebook formats and gives you fine control over fonts, spacing, themes and night mode, which matters when you are working through a dense textbook.
- Best forStudying from ebooks and long reads on Android.
- PricePro is $11.99, one time
- Free optionThe full reader, with ads
- Runs onAndroid only
- FormatsEPUB, PDF, MOBI, TXT and more
The good
- Deep control over how text looks
- Highlights and notes for studying
- A one-time Pro purchase, no subscription
The bad
- Ads in the free version
- Busy menus take a while to learn
Learning does not stop at courses, and Moon+ Reader covers the reading half of a study routine. It opens most common ebook formats and lets you tune the page until a long read stops tiring your eyes.
Highlighting, notes and smooth scrolling make it a real tool for studying from PDFs and ebooks, not just casual reading. If your learning involves long-form material, this is the app to keep it in.
Key features
- Highlights and notes: mark up a book, with a built-in dictionary and translation.
- Text to speech: have a chapter read aloud (Pro).
- Night and eye-care modes: themes built for long reading sessions.
Goodreads
Track what you read and what is next
Goodreads is where you log books, set a reading goal and find what to read next from a community with an enormous back catalog of reviews.
- Best forReaders working through a list, a subject or a yearly challenge.
- PriceFree
- Free optionEverything
- Runs onAndroid, iPhone, web, Kindle
- OwnerAmazon
The good
- More than 75 million members sharing reviews
- Reading goals and shelves keep you on track
- Free, with no paid tier
The bad
- The app design shows its age
- Recommendations lean on popular titles
Goodreads covers the social side of learning. It is the place to track what you have read, line up what is next, and find recommendations from a very large community. For anyone working through a reading list, that shared shelf turns solitary reading into something you can compare notes on.
Pair it with Moon+ Reader and you have both ends of a reading habit covered: one to plan and log, the other to read and annotate.
Key features
- Reading challenge: set a yearly book goal and track it.
- Shelves: Want to Read, Currently Reading, Read, the new Did Not Finish shelf, and your own lists.
- Cover scan: point the camera at a book to pull up its page and reviews.
How to pick the right one
Thirteen apps is a lot, so start from the subject rather than the badge collection. The shortlist sorts itself out fast once you know what you are after.
Start from the subject
- LanguagesMemrise for real spoken practice, Quizlet for raw vocabulary drilling.
- CodingMimo for a daily habit and comfort with syntax.
- A child’s math or readingBrighterly for a live tutor, Khan Academy for free practice.
- School and exam subjectsKhan Academy, free top to bottom and built for mastery.
- Creative or career skillsSkillshare for projects, Udemy for one named skill, LinkedIn Learning for credentials.
- MusicYousician for instant feedback on guitar, piano or bass.
- ReadingMoon+ Reader to study from, Goodreads to plan and log.
Consistency beats the perfect app
- Install one, not six. A single app you open every day beats a screen full of icons you swipe past with vague guilt. Pick the subject that matters most right now, give it ten minutes a day, and add the next app once the habit sticks.
FAQs
Which of these learning apps is completely free?
Khan Academy, all the way down: it is a nonprofit with no paid tier for learners. Goodreads is free too, and the free edition of Stellarium Mobile covers casual stargazing. Everything else puts a free tier, a trial or a free first lesson in front of a subscription or paid sessions.
What is the best Android app for learning to code from zero?
Mimo. Lessons are short, you type real code from the first one, and the streaks keep you coming back. Once the syntax feels familiar, move on to bigger projects; a well-reviewed Udemy course fills that gap.
Do brain training apps like Peak make you smarter?
No good study has shown that. You get better at the games, which is a fine goal on its own, but the gains do not seem to carry over to everyday thinking. Treat Peak as a warmup, not a treatment.
Is a live tutor worth it over a free app?
For a child who is stuck, often yes. An app can drill what a child already understands; a tutor can find the misunderstanding underneath and explain it another way. Brighterly combines both, with live lessons and practice between them. On a tight budget, start with Khan Academy and add a tutor if the gap does not close.
Udemy or LinkedIn Learning for career skills?
Udemy if you want one specific skill and can wait for a sale; you buy the course and keep it. LinkedIn Learning if you want a steady stream of professional courses and certificates on your profile; it comes with Premium Career, and many employers provide it.
The bottom line
The best learning app is the one that matches the subject in front of you. Khan Academy is the easy first install because it costs nothing and covers most school subjects. Mimo and Memrise are the strongest daily-habit apps for code and languages, Yousician is the pick for an instrument, and Brighterly is the one to look at when a child needs a real tutor rather than another app.
Not sure where to start? Install Khan Academy tonight, since it costs nothing, and give it a week before you add anything else.
How we put this guide together
We started from the twelve apps in the earlier version of this guide and rechecked each one against its current Google Play listing and the company’s own pricing and help pages, then added Brighterly for families who want live tutoring. Prices are US list prices at the time of writing and can differ by country. Where an app has cut its free tier or changed its features, its section says so. The research links go to the FTC, the National Bureau of Economic Research and a peer-reviewed review of study techniques, not to vendor claims.
